Straight Talk TNT

DEAR FRIENDS,

It's good to remember the 40 million teens and young adults in the US, many with serious issues around bullying, body image, online porn, cutting, binge-drinking — things they don't always talk to parents about.

Since its inception in 2004, the weekly advice column, Straight Talk TNT, has used the principle of peer-to-peer advice to help young people. Our column presents the voices of over 85 volunteer youths from all over America. By sharing their insights and hard-won wisdom these youths help other youth —  like only they can. Teens listen more than usual. Parents learn what's really going on. Controversial topics are handled respectfully.

Youth are our future. I call them society's truth serum because their lives don't lie. They are also the canary in the coal mine. Their mental and physical health are an early warning system of where we are heading.

Straight Talk TNT is currently syndicated in 23 California newspapers and the Toledo Blade of Ohio, with a combined circulation of over 1 million readers. Each week we estimate our column is read by over 100,000 youth, parents, grandparents, business leaders and others who care about youth.

Our goal is to be in multiple newspapers across America, bringing a steady stream of peer-to-peer hope, light and answers to over 50 million readers.

With your help, we can do it!

Straight Talk TNT is now a nonprofit tax-deductible 501(c)3 organization.

The newspaper industry loves our column and almost every paper wants to carry it (I've spoken with almost every major newspaper in America and many mid-sized papers). But almost every paper is too broke to pay for it (you've all watched your local paper shrink to a skeleton).

Our solution is to roll the column out to newspapers nationwide as a nonprofit offering.

With an annual projected operating budget of only $150,000, we have the potential to be read by 50 million people. That means that for each PENNY we spend we can potentially reach 3 people EVERY WEEK, ALL YEAR LONG!

For each DOLLAR we spend, 300 people are reached every week, all year long!

It's a huge bang for the buck and few nonprofits can boast such an impact for the money spent. We have a unique product with a platform that can help many people at once, bringing them needed light, hope and answers on a continuous weekly basis.

The wellbeing of our youth determines the success of tomorrow. Will you join us in bringing hope, light and answers to our nation's youth and their parents? 

With you we can do it! Join us and help make a difference in their lives!

Please make your 2012 tax-deductible donation by clicking the secure online server or by sending a check to Straight Talk TNT, PO Box 963, Fair Oaks, CA 95628.

If half our readers sent in just $5, our 2012 budget would be set! No donation is too small and none are too large either! For donations of $1000 per year or more, there will be recognition given on our website. All donations are tax-deductible.

To all a brighter, stronger, happier world!

With Love and Thanks,
Lauren Forcella
Founder & CEO, Straight Talk TNT

Testimonials:

"I saw myself in last week's column and cried.
Nobody has ever spoken so truthfully before."
—Caitlin 

"My son clipped your column and laid it on my
bed. It was an ice-breaker for us."—Single Dad 

"Your column is on the front page of Lifestyle 
now. It’s my best column and I want people to
see it!" —Michelle Miller, Features Editor,
Auburn Journal

"The great thing about being on the panel is that 
the advice is sincere and stems from experience.
Most columns are by one author (usually older),
whereas, Straight Talk TNT is for teens by teens.
There isn't pressure to make something up that
we haven't experienced because we share the
responsibility with many other teens and 
twenties." —Rachel, Straight Talk TNT panelist